You May Be "Hardwired" to Crave Cheeseburgers and Donuts

Thanks to science, there could be an explanation for why you're so powerless to resist things like cheeseburgers, fries, donuts, and pizza -- well, besides the fact that they're delicious. Turns out you could actually be programmed to want fatty, sugary, and high-calorie foods more than other people, according to a new study. Really.

The study, which was recently presented by researchers from the Imperial College London, suggests there are certain genetic variants that make some people "hardwired" to choose foods that are high in fat and sugar, and ultimately become obese. As Dr. Tony Goldstone, lead author of the study explains, "It means they may experience more cravings than the average person when presented with high-calorie foods -- that is, those high in fat and/or sugar -- leading them to eat more of these foods."

While the study was small -- only involving 45 white European adults between the ages of 19 and 55 -- the results shed new light on the connection between genetics and obesity.

"These findings help us better understand the biological basis of behaviors that may predispose some people to overeating high-calorie foods, and hence obesity," said Dr. Leah Wingham, a fellow of The Obesity Society and executive director of Paso Del Norte Institute for Healthy Living, in a statement. "It could help us better target treatments for obesity so particular people get the most effective treatment, as individualized approaches to obesity are necessary."

With that said, if you've ever felt like you lacked basic self-control when confronted with a box of donuts, well, it might be a bit more complicated than that.

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Tony Merevick is Cities News Editor at Thrillist and is seriously wondering about his own genes right now. Send news tips to news@thrillist.com and follow him on Twitter @tonymerevick.